Air Purifiers

06 CE 6024 Air Pollution Control Engineering

Dr. Ratish Menon

Associate Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering
SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Kochi
DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 1
 Types
Air Purifier

Indoor Outdoor

Room
Central/
purifier
Whole House

Filter Filter
Type less Stand Duct based
Filter based
alone

pre-filters, HEPA Ionizer, ESP, Ozone generators, UV,

filters, and Thermodynamic sterilization,
carbon filters. Photocatalytic oxidation
DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 2
 Outdoor Air Purifier
WAYU, designed by NEERI and IIT (Bombay), works by converting
pollutants such as dangerous PM2.5 and PM10 particles, carbon
monoxide and volatile organic compounds into carbon dioxide using a
filter. Its creators claim it can reduce pollution at busy traffic junctions by
40-60 percent

The WAYU device works in two stages. The first stage uses a fan to suck in
air around the device, which contains all kinds of pollutants like dust and
particulate matter. These are separated using three blades of different
dimensions

Post this, the air enters into a specially designed chamber where
oxidation takes place using activated carbon coated with titanium oxide.
The oxidation is supported by two ultraviolet lights. The purified air is
then pumped out into the atmosphere

Filters were made of non-woven fabric and their removal efficiency for
particulate matter was 80 to 90 percent and of the poisonous gases 40 to
50 percent. the device is 5.5 feet tall and one foot wide.

The device uses half a unit of electricity for 10 hours of operation, and
can provide purified air to an area of 500 square metre

DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 3

Filters in Air Purifiers
- Prefilters: Not really a treatment, but protects main filter. Removes
larger particles and insects,dust and pollen
-HEPA filter: High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance filters. filter out
99.97% of particulate pollutants, such as pollen, mold, dust mites, and
more, which are as small as 0.3 micrometers in size.
-Activated carbon filter: Extremely porous and give a large surface area to
ensure maximum absorption of volatile chemicals on molecular basis.
The molecular-sized pores on activated carbon filters have high
absorbency and chemical bonding.

DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 4

Filter less Technologies
1)Air Ionizers: releases a very high concentration of negative or positive ions which attach
themselves to air pollutants that are usually neutral so that they either have a negative or positive
charge. Once charged, they become attracted to surfaces or other pollutants with the opposite
charge. Produces small amount of Ozone which cause discomfort.
2) Electrostatic Precipitator: functions almost the same way as an air ionizer except that it has
electrically charged plates that are able to collect air pollutants. Produces small amounts of ozone
and nitrogen oxide.
3) Ozone Generators: Ozone released by ozone generators undergo chemical reaction with
pollutants to render them harmless
4) Thermodynamic Sterilization: The air passes through the air purifier’s ceramic core with micro
capillaries which are heated up to 200°C. This process claims to incinerate 99% of bacteria, viruses,
dust mites, mold, and fungus spores.
5) Ultraviolet germicidal lights: They work by damaging the genetic material of these
microorganisms, rendering them unable to reproduce and completely eliminating them in the
process. There are several factors that will affect the effectiveness of UVGI systems such as the
intensity of the UV light, the duration of irradiation, humidity, the target organism, and other factors.
-

DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 5

Types of Whole Building Air Purifiers
1. Filter-based units – These are installed into your HVAC furnace systems and air intake points
2. Duct-based units – These are installed directly into the air duct path, either before or after
the air handler in your HVAC system
3. Stand-alone units – These types of systems are installed in closets or attics, followed by
installing additional air intake and exhaust into the home

DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 6

 Assignment
You have the option of buying an air purifier from 4 different models as shown below. Which one
you will choose? Justify your answer!
(hint: based on your need, technical comparison & value for money)

Honeywell Air Touch i8 Mi Air Purifier 2S Samsung AX 3000 Philips AVENT

DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING SCMS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY 7